Georgia’s presidential press secretary Manana Manjgaladze told journalists in Tbilisi on August 1 that President Mikheil Saakashvili had set the day and expressed his hope that elections will be held in an open and fair way, calling all eligible voters to take part in the poll.

The Georgian Dream opposition coalition, led by tycoon-turned-politician Bidzina Ivanishvili, is expected to be the main challenger to Saakashvili's ruling United National Movement.

Ivanishvili has said he intends to run for president next year, when incumbent Saakashvili's second term ends.